3 5 8 ARISTOCRA CY AND E VOL UTION 



Book iv constitution which we cannot alter, and in respect of 

 which we are all similar. But for external goods 

 but the desire that are beyond this minimum men's desires vary 

 indefinitely ; and they vary because they depend on 

 tne act i n of the imagination and the intellect, which 

 vary. varies in different men, and in the same men under 



different circumstances. 



In civilised countries the minimum of goods 

 desired is practically not limited to the bare neces- 

 saries of existence, and it is difficult to define it with 

 anything like absolute precision. But without any 

 formal definition of it, it is at all events sufficiently 

 The special distinct to enable us to place in contrast with it those 

 hranyismainiy obviously unnecessary goods which make up wealth 

 andThe" 1 " 1 an< ^ l uxurv< Now luxury is very commonly supposed, 

 imagination J n contradiction to what has just been asserted, 

 to represent materialism in its most exaggerated 

 form, and thus to offer a contrast to competence 

 or modest comfort. And it does, no doubt, rest 

 on a material basis ; but competence and modest 

 comfort do so likewise. An arm-chair which costs 

 perhaps thirty shillings is as material as one which, 

 on account of its artistic workmanship, costs four or 

 five times that number of pounds. But so far as 

 wealth and luxury transcend comfort and competence, 

 and possess those peculiar qualities which are held 

 to render them enviable, what they appeal to, and 

 what they are measured by, is not their effect upon 

 the senses, but their appeal to the imagination and 

 the mind. We can easily see this by considering 

 very simple examples, which will show us that the 



